Hammer gauge



P. F. JOHNSON. HAMMER GAUGE. APPLICATION FILED sEPT.1.\92o.

Patented June 13, 1922.

INI/ENTOR. fj'lfoznfon.

PETER E. JOHNSON, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

HAMMER GAUGE.

:raras-ev.

Application filed September 7, 1920.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, .PETER F. JOHNsON, acitizen of the United States, residing at Oakland, in the county ofAlameda, State 0f California, have invented a new and useful HammerGauge, of which the following is a specification in such full and clearterms as will enable those skilled in the art to construct and use thesame.

This invention relates to a hammer gauge, and its object is to provide agauge which is capable of being concealed Within the hammer handle andwhich may be extended for use to enable the Workman to space shingles ornails at any desired distance, While the gauge is made of a flexiblematerial Which will not in any way interfere with the use of the hammerso that it may remain extended While the hammer is in use.

Other objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying' drawings inwhich the same reference numeral is applied to the same portionthroughout, but I am aware that there may be modifications thereof.

Figure l is a side elevation of a hammer illustrating the use of thegauge and shoiving the gauge partly extended from the hammer handle.

F ig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a portion of the hammerhandle showing the gauge partly extended.

F ig. 3 is an end elevation of the hammer handle.

F ig. 4 is a vieiv of the retaining Washer for securing the gauge inplace in the hammer handle, a portion thereof being broken away toillustrate the manner of securing the gauge in a given position.

The numeral l indicates the hammer handle which is secured in the usualWay to the driving head 2. The hammer handle is provided with a hole 3Within which a .flexible rubber rod et is slidable.

The rubber rod is sufliciently stiff to act as a gauge, While at thesame time it will bend and in no Way interferes with the use of thehammer because it may be bent from side to side.l

.In order to prevent the gauge from falling out of the opening in thehammer handle it has a Washer 5 pressed thereon which may be set atdifferent lengths from the end of the gauge, or the gauge may be held indif- Speccation of Letters Patent.

Patented J une f3, i922.. Serial No. 408,683.

ferent adjustments by means of the spring lock 6. The spring lock issecured at the back of the retaining Washer 7. The retaining Washer issecured in the end of the handle by means of two screws 8 and 9, and 1thas a peripheral notch as indicated at l0 through which the short end llof the pivot lock 6 projects.

rl'he screws 8 and 9 serve to hold the washer' in place and they causeit to bear upon the lock 6 with sufficient force to enable said lock tohold the gauge rod in any given adjustment. The fixed end of this locksurrounds the screw 9, or it may be secured in any other suitablemanner.

This gauge is used iWhere a considerable number of measurements of afixed definite length are to be repeatedly made in conjunction With thetool to which the gauge is applied, and the gauge is of such a nature asto permit it to be continuously extended Without interfering with theWork of the operator. Vhen used in conjunction with a striking tool, ahole is bored in the handle of the tool and the scale of the gauge ismade to read a certain number of inches in conjunction with the lengthof the tool to which the gauge is applied.. The gauge is pulled out fromthe tool handle the desired amount and locked in any given position bythe spring l1 whereupon the total length of the tool and gauge may beused for repeated measurements Without retracting the gauge each time.

The gauge is also especially useful Where a series of short measurementsare to be made, as for example: when a Workmanl is laying' shingles itis desirable to have a convenient method of measuring four inches eachtime a shingle is to be laid; therefore, the gauge would be extendedfrom the handle of the implement with which it is 'used four inches, andthis would provide a shoulder to be placed against the shingle alreadynailed in place and give the measurement for the next shingle, andWithout retracting the gauge the implement can be used for driving thenails in place, the gauge not in any Way interfering with the implementbecause of its flexibility.

It will also be seen that the gauge may be used in the manner justmentioned or in conjunction With the length of the tool to which it issecured as above mentioned.

What I claim is as follows, but various definite 2 neiges? modificationsmay be made in the Construethrough which the gauge slides, and a springtion shown in the drawings and above parcarried by said Washer andadapted to bear ticuiarly described form, within the purupon; the gaugeto hold it in any desired l0 View of my invention. adjust-ment.

In a measuring scale the combination with In testimony whereof I havehereunto set a tooly handle, of a iiexibie gauge slidabie my hand this1G day of July, A. D. 1920. thereinto, a` Washer on the end of thehandle PETER F. JUHNSON.

